Lawyer M Ravi charged with causing public nuisance, remanded at IMH for two weeks

M Ravi speaking to reporters at the Speakers’ Corner in Singapore in 2015. (Photo: Reuters)

Lawyer M Ravi was charged in court on Saturday (12 August) with causing public nuisance, voluntarily causing hurt and committing a rash act.

The charges include two counts of causing public nuisance at Sri Mariamman Temple on 31 July and 11 August; and voluntarily causing hurt to Jeanette Chong-Aruldoss and committing a rash act against Nakoorsha Abdul Kadir on 8 August.

District Judge Carol Ling ordered that M Ravi be remanded at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for two weeks for psychiatric observation, a report from The Straits Times said. His case will be heard again on 25 August.

Chong-Aruldoss, a lawyer at Eugene Thuraisingam LLP located at The Adelphi, said in a Facebook post on 8 August that Ravi pushed her to the floor near her office.

Her colleague made a police report over the alleged assault on the same day, said Chong-Aruldoss, who is a member of the Singapore People’s Party.

Deputy public prosecutor Dillon Kok had called for Ravi to be remanded at the IMH, adding that he “may be dangerous to other persons”.

Ravi made a 20 minute statement in court accusing the prosecution of lying about his psychiatric situation and calling for Ling to recuse herself from the case due to possible bias, The Straits Times said.

Ravi also said he had been seeking psychiatric treatment and had been given medicine.

Formerly Eugene Thuraisingam LLP’s Head of Knowledge Management and Strategic Alliance, Ravi was fired on 7 June this year after having started work last October. He was charged with criminal trespass in June after he allegedly unlawfully entered the premises of Eugene Thuraisingam LLP.

Eugene Thuraisingam said Ravi was fired for being unmanageable and rude to the firm’s staff. The firm had initially hired Ravi as it wanted to help the lawyer, who was unemployed due to his debarment.

Ravi, who is known for taking on human rights cases, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2006. He was convicted on four charges of misconduct last October.